Government Keen to Prepare Suitable Ground for National Dialogue

DAMASCUS, (ST) – The Ministerial Committee tasked with implementing the political program to solve the crisis in Syria on Sunday held discussions with a group of Damascus University professors within its efforts to prepare a suitable ground to launch national dialogue aiming at attaining a settlement in the country.

Prime Minister Wael al-halqi, who chaired the meeting, said discussions with University Professors come within the framework of exchanging the views which enrich effective and fruitful national dialogue that embodies the aspirations of the Syrian people in building a better future to Syria.

“The government has considerably proceeded in implementing the first phase of the political program and it is open to all influential forces in society without exclusions,” al-Halqi said, referring to the consultative meetings the committee had held with representatives of political, social economic and cultural forces. 

The Premier reviewed the government’s procedures to encourage dialogue and prepare the suitable environment to make it a success, including the providing of legal guarantees for the return of the displaced Syrians to their homeland and the inviting of opposition forces abroad to take part in national dialogue.

University professors presented their views and suggestions to find a solution to the crisis, stressing that priority should be given to halting violence, accelerating dialogue, enhancing contacts with opposition groups and holding a Syrian-Syrian dialogue among all components of the Syrian society.

They called for consolidating the authority of law, providing equal opportunities, achieving social justice, fighting corruption and improving the living and socio-economic standards of citizens.

Following the meeting, Professor Salim Barakat, said in a statement to the press that all the Syrians are concerned in launching a comprehensive national dialogue. “The Syrians are able to get Syria out of the current crisis,” said Barakat who also appreciated honest international efforts to make dialogue, which ends the Syrian people’s suffering, a success.

H. Mustafa